Switch, outlet, or receptacle box.



No. 69|,874. Pdtented Jan. 23, I902. m. noamsou.

SWITCH, OUTLETQAND RECEPTACLE BOX.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MINER ROBINSON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH, OUTLET,,OR RECEPTACLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,874, dated January 28, 1902.

Application filed November 21, 1901. Serial No. 83.182. (No model.)

' are held in place by screws passing through the plastering and into the lath or woodwork. Boxes attached in this manner are liable to work loose from the constant jar as the switch is operated, causing the plastering between the switch-ear and the lath or other woodwork to crumble away, thereby removing the support from under the switch-ears. In cases where there is no plaster it has been necessary to use extreme care in cutting the mortise the right depth for the attaching-ear. In order to overcome this difficulty and also to provide a means of adjustment to allow for varying thickness of plastering, &c., I adopt an improved form of construction whereby, as hereinafter described, my switch-box is firmly attached to the lath or other woodwork without the intervention of the plaster, at the same time being readily adjustable.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved box. Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views of the same attached to the wall, Fig. 2 showing perpendicular and Fig. 3 angular attaching-screws in place. Fig. 4 is a section on at 4:, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a section on 5 5, Fig. 3.

I provide the switch-box A, as shown in the drawings, with projectionsor ears B, said projections being placed a short distance back from the front edge of the box at such a distance that when the box is cut into the partition, as shown in Fig. 4, this projecting portion or ear will allow the front edge of the box to go in slightly below the plane of the plaster-surface. As it is necessary to have the front edge of the box in the same plane with the plaster-surface when the switch is put on, I provide four leveling-screws O, as shown. I

Attaching-screw holes d, Fig. 1, are drilled through the 111 g or projecting ear B perpendicular to the plane of the front edges of the box, and also attaching-screw holes d are drilled through the side of the projecting ear at an angle, so that in case the screws inserted through the perpendicular holes should fail to strike a lath or other woodwork or should strike so near the edge as to split the lath the screws inserted in the angular holes would undoubtedly reach a firm hold in a lath or adjacent woodwork.

. The box is installed as follows: A hole of sufficient size to admit the body of the box is cut through both plaster and woodwork in the wall, and outside of this hole plastering only is removed for sufficient distance to admit the attaching-ear B, as best shown in Fig. 4. In case the Wall is entirely of wood a hole, of approximately the same shape as above described is out, removing a layer of wood instead of plaster to accommodate the attachin gear. The four leveling-screws O are then turned until the edges of the box are flush with the surface of the wall. Finally, the attaching-screws D in either the perpendicular holes d or the angular holes (1, as may be necessary to secure a hold on the lath or other woodwork, are screwed firmly in place. It will be found that the box is held securely in this position and supported entirely independent from the plastering. By using the angular holes d for attaching the box a slight vertical adjustment may be easily obtained.

Some of the advantages of my invention might be stated briefly as follows: Less time is required in securely attaching the box to the partition, therefore making a saving in labor. Ease of adjustmentof the box for varying thicknesses of plastering is secured, or in case the box is set in woodwork less pains is re quired in cutting the mortise for the attaching-ear, as any discrepancy in the depth of the mortise may be readily compensated for by the adj usting-screws. Also by using the attaching'screws through the angular holes quite a vertical adjustment may be obtained, which under certain conditions would prove valuable. In case, forinstance, the coveringplate did not quite cover a little break inthe plastering, by means of this adjustment the Whole box could be either raised or lowered slightly, as might be necessary, facility being afforded for permitting equally good work vdone by less skilled labor. Also double provirectly to the lath or other woodwork entirely independent of the plaster.

2. A switch, receptacle or outlet box having the ears or lugs 13 substantially as described, provided with leveling-screws C and attaching-holes d drilled on an angle in combination with the screws D substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MINER ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

SUMNER ROBINSON, GER-TRUDE GUNTHER. 

